Automatic safety stop device for engines.



'No.'65i,407. Patented lune l2, I900. J. K. WRIGHT.

v AUTOMATIC SAFETY STOP DEVICE FOR ENGINES.

' (Application filed Mar. 5, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

W2' wze ss es.

Patented l une |2 I900.

No. 65l,407. I

J. K. WRIGHT. AUTOMATIC SAFETY STOP DEVICE FOR ENGINES. (Application filed Mar. 5, 1900.! (No Model.) 4 SheetsSh eet 3.

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'No. 65!,407. Patented lune l2, I900.- J. K. WRIGHT.

AUTOMATIC SAFETY STOP DEVICE FOR ENGINES.

(Application filed Mar. 6, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

THE Norms warms :0. .movcmmu.v WASNINGTDN. 0 Q

UNITED STATES PATEN FFIcE.

JAMES K. \VRIGHT, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC SAFETY S'TOP DEVICE FOR ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,407, dated June 12, 1900.

. Application filed March 5, 1900.

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES K. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Safety Stop Devices for Engines, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to safety stop devices for engines, and more particularly to automatic devices of the character especially adapted to steam-engines, although myimproveinents may be used with any kind of motive-power engine in which fluid-pressure is used.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic safety stop mechanism for steamengines or other fluid-pressure-operated engine which will not only stop the engine when its maximum or minimum speed limit is reached or when any of the driving-belts of the governor mechanism or the safety stop device breaks, but will shutoff the supply of steam when the steam-pipe bursts, thereby preventing the egress ofsteam from the burst pipe.

Heretofore it has been proposed to close the stop-valve of an engine by means of devices intended to operate either through the medium of electricity or by pulley-weights operated by suitable connections with the engiue; but in the cases with which I am familiar there have been serious defects which entail such elements of danger as to render the devices in question so uncertain as to be unsafe in use. The cause of these defects lies generally in the fact that the stop-valve is not under the positive action ofthe weight used in closing it at all times; the weight itself not coming into action until a ratchet or Other tripping mechanism is actuated, and hence when the rope or cord or other connection between the tripping mechanism and the engine breaks the device for closing the stop valve is rendered absolutely inoperative and useless. By my invention I overcome this serious defect by connecting directly with the valve a weight which normally tends to close the valve at all times and providing connections between the valve and automatic stop mechanism of the engine for holding the valve open against the action of the Weight illustrated in Fig. 1.

serial No. 7,3 70. (No model.)

which are always under tension, so that the moment the tension on such connection or connections is released from any cause, as by the operation of the automatic stop device or the breaking of any connection, the Weight will be permitted to. instantly close said valve. As the stop-valve is located near the boiler it is obvious that should the steampipe burst the speed of the engine will be instantly diminished, thereby causing the automatic stop device to be instantly operated by the reduction of the speed below its normal point, and through the release of tension on the connections with the stop-valve the latter will be instantly closed by means of the weight, stopping the engine and preventing the escape of steam, thereby avoiding the great damage that might result from such escaping steam.

With the object above noted in View my invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the claims. t

In the drawings, Figure 1 indicates a side elevation showinga preferred form of my invention to be applied to an engine. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection ofthe safety stop device Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same, taken on a plane at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. tis a top plan view. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the stop-valve atright angles to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 shows a modification of a connection between the stop-valve and the stop device.

In the constructionof my safety stop device as applied to the stop-valve near the boiler I prefer to employ as a safety stop mechanism my automatic safety stop and speed-limit devices, such as shown in my previous patents, Nos. 602,384 and 602,385, dated April 12, 1898; but it is to be distinctly, understood that the essential features of my present improvement maybe used in combination with any suitable kind of safety stop device and with the spring-ball governor, as well as with a fly-ball governor, such as illustrated in the drawings, for while I have shown my safety stop device essentially of the same construction as in my prior patents above referred to as operated by a vertical governor-spindle it is obvious that this construction may be varied to suit the governor-spindle in any other possible position-such as when applied in a horizontal position, for example, in the employment of a spring-ball governorand therefore while I describe my presentimprovements in connection with a fly-ball governor operating a vertical governor-spindle and the safety stop device of the character covered by my present patents I desire it to be understood that my present invention is not limited to such features.

In the drawings, where the same reference characters relate to the same or correspond ing parts of the devicein all the views, the numeral 1 indicates a cast-iron or other suitable metal casing which is adapted to surround all of the mechanism of the safety stop device in connection with the balls 2, the latter being on top of the casing. This casing incloses, as shown in the drawings, in the present instance a safety stop device essentially of the character covered by mytprior patents, which may be briefly described, the details of the same being fully described in my prior patents. The governor-spindle 3 extends downwardly through the top of the casing and is made in two sections 3 and 3, the former carrying the metal casing 4, within which works the plunger-head 5 of the lower section 3, below which plunger-head is confined a spring 6, normally tending when compressed to move the plunger-head upwardly, thereby moving one section of the spindle with reference to the other. The lower section of the governor-spindle is preferably carried in a hearing which is attached to the inside of the casing 1.

In the plunger-head 5 is a groove 8, into which the pin 9 is adapted to enter for the purpose of locking the two sections of the governorrod together, this pinbeing actuated by spring 10, normally holding the pin in the groove. The pin 9 is actuated to release the two sections from engagement by the withdrawal of the pin from the groove 8 through the medium of the bell-crank lever 11, havin g three arms-one connected to the'pin and the other two adapted to be engaged by either one of the two stops 12 or 13, the former coming into play when the governor-balls fall below their normal plane of working and the latter when the govern or-balls rise above their normal plane of working, causing the governor-spindle to fall or rise correspondingly. One arm of the leveris preferably pressed outward by the spring 14, which tends to throw the arm connected with the pin 9 toward the governor-spindles In order to set the stop device so that it will not operate when stopping the engine under ordinaryconditions, I use th esame catch or tripping mechanism as disclosed in my prior patent, which consists in the sliding sleeve 15, carrying the spring-actuated-pin 16, having a suitable handle, said pin being adapted to enter a recess 17 on the side of the pin 9, thereby normally locking the sleeve and pin 9 together.

Projecting from the handle of the pin 16 is a suitable arm or boss 18, which is adapted to be engaged by a catch 19 when the said pin is drawn away from the sleeve 15, thus releasing the connection of said pin with the recess of the pin 9. It will by this means be obvious that when it is desired to stop the engine without having the safety stop device operated by the governor-rod it is only necessary to withdraw the connection between the sliding sleeve 15 and the pin 9, as above indicated, thereby permitting the said sleeve to slide back and forth on the pin 9 without effecting any movement of the latter. I preferably balance the working parts of the stop device so as to make it more sensitive by means of a weight 20, adjustably mounted upon a lever 21, pivoted at 22 and having a short arm engaging by a yoke-and-pin connection the grooved collar 23 on the lower end of the metal casing 4,.

The mechanism so far described, as above indicated, is the same as that covered by my prior patents and is the preferable form of safety stop device which I propose to use in connection with the improvements for clos ing with certainty the stop-valve in the steampipe in case the pipe bursts or in the event of any unusual or dangerous conditions in the working of the engine, resulting in the rising or the falling of the governor rod or spindle above or below the normal plane of working or when the governor-balls, in case the governor is used in the horizontal position or any other position than that of the vertical position, move away in either direction from their normal plane of working.

In order to combine my improvements with the stop device shown, I preferably inclosc the Working parts, as already indicated, in a metal shell or casin g 1, which is adapted to be bolted to the floor at a suitable distance from the engine to provide a sufficient length of belt for driving the governor-balls 2, through the medium. of the pulley 24 and the connections indicated, the said casing and inclosed parts being located at any suitable place in reference to the engine and the boiler-room, according to the surrounding conditions.

Instead of connecting the governor-spindle through the medium of the lower section to the steam-valves, as in my prior patent, I extend the lower section 3 downwardly and provide the same with a slotted head 25, from the lower part of which head projects a short spindle, suitably, guided in the bearing 7. Mounted upon a suitable spindle or shaft at the lower part of the casing is a drum 26, to which is attached a rope or cord 27, leading over suitable pulleys 28 and 29, the latter be- Y ing located at a convenient point near the stop-valve in the steam-pipe in close proximity to the boiler, and the end of the rope passing over said latter pulley is connected to a bolt 30 on a frame 31, mounted directly upon the spindle 32 of a stop-valve 33, which in the present instance is of the balanced register type adapted to close by a movement within ninety degrees. I have shown this type of valve merely for the purpose of illustration; but I do not desire that my invention be considered as limited thereto, as it is ob vious that any quick-closing type of valve may be used or any suitable valve for such purpose, a quick-closing valve of course being much preferable to any other kind. Suspended from a suitable point on the spindle 32,at a suitable distance from the point of connection of the rope or cord with said frame, is an arm 34, carrying the casing 35, secured thereto by a screw-nut 36 at the bottom,within which casing is carried a suitable weight or weights 37, such weights being sufficiently heavy to insure a quick and perfect closing of the valve.

The connection between the stop-valve and the drum or other operating part 26 is always to be maintained under tension, so as to hold the stop-valve open while the weight constantly acts on the valve, tending always to close the same, and hence the moment the tension on the connection between the valve and the stop devicethat is, in the present instance the rope on the d rum-is released the weight acts instantly to close the valve. In order to insure the release of the tension on the connection automatically, I interpose between the drum and the safety stop device, heretofore described, a pawl and ratchet mechanism which is adapted to be controlled by the movement of the governor spindle or rod in either direction away from the normal plane of Working of the governor-balls. This pawl-and-ratchet mechanism consists of a simple form of ratchet-Wheel 38, mounted on the shaft by the side of the drum and adapted to be engaged by a pivot-pawl 39, having an arm 40 extending through the slot 41 in the slotted head 25. By this arrangement it will be seen that when the governor-spindle is moved up or down or when the governorballs are moved away from the normal plane of working the lower end of the slot in the head 25, coming in contact with the arm 40, moves the latter, so as to cause the pawl to release the ratchet-wheel, thus releasing the drum from the ratchet-wheel, thereby releasing the tension on the rope 27, whereby the weight 37 is operated to instantly close the valve, and thus shut off the steam from the engine. It will be observed in this connection that should the rope or other connection used in holding the valve open break the weight will instantly close the stop-valve, and

the stopping of the engine will immediately follow, whereby the engineer will know that the rope or other connection has broken or that the steam-pipe has burst, for it should also be observed that the moment the steampipe should burst at any point between the boiler and the engine the spindle of the governor will instantly lower, thus causing the safety stop device to actuate the pawl to release the drum, which in turn releases the tension upon the rope or other connection, and as a result of this action the stop-valve will immediately shut off the supply of steam to the engine and all further egress of steam will be prevented. This operation is considered to be a most important feature of my invention, inasmuch as it insures against the terrible injury that frequently results to the attendants from the bursting of the steam-pipe. In this connection I desire to emphasize the essential advantage of my device for closing the stopvalve which results from a peculiar manner of controlling the closing movement of the stop-valve. By my invention I effect the closing of the valve by a weight which at all times positively acts directly upon the valve to close it, while the valve is held open by a connection between the safety stop device and the valve which is always under tension, so that while the device will operate effectively and instantly the moment there is any unusual condition either in the steam-pipe, such as bursting of the pipe, or of working of the engine it will also operate to close the valve the moment the connection between the safety stop device and the valve breaks, as sometimes happens, thus makiug it impossible for the most serious accident that can occur namely, the bursting of the pipe-to do any damage through any failure on the part of the safety mechanism to properly operate. This has not been possible in governor mechanisms of the kind heretofore proposed or put into use, because where weights have been employed they have generally been utilized as falling weights released by a suitable detent or tripping mechanism connected with the stop device to permit the said weights to fall and close the valve. The chief difficulty in all such constructions and other constructions where weights have been employed which are not always acting directly upon the valve to close it lies in the fact that should the operating connection between the mechanism for releasing the weight and the stop device be broken the operation of the stop device would not and could not close the valve.

Referring again tov the general description of the operation of the device, and particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the device for closing the stop-valve can never be left in an inoperative position, because after the valve is once closed by the operation of the stop device it cannot be opened until the lower section 3 of the governor-spindle has been moved, compressing the spring until the two sections of the spindle are brought into operative position,which setting of the spindle-sections is necessary in order to permit the pawl-arm freedom to be moved into engagement with the ratchetteeth, whereupon the ratchet-shaft can be turned by a handle applied at 41 in order to lift the weight and open the stop-valve, which action of course places the rope under tension again.

It will sometimes be desirable to operate the pawl 39 from distant stations by means of push-buttons controlling an electric circuit, and I have shown in the drawings concourse be pulled at any time, so as to in-' stantly release the pawl from the ratchetwheel,with the result that the stop-valve can be closed in the manner heretofore described. For effecting this movement of the pawl by controlling an electric circuit I may use a weight 46, slidably mounted upon a rod 47 and when liberated actuating an arm 42, said weight being normally held up by a catch 48,

one arm of which is adapted to be controlled by an electromagnet 49, influenced by a circuit 50, whose wires lead to any suitable point or points where push-buttons are located to control the current flowing through the same and to the coil of the electromagnet. This operates in the usual manner of such electromagnetic devices and needs no further description.

\Vhile I have shown the rope or cord connection between the stop device and the valve as the preferred form of such connection, I may employ other connecting means so long as such means are capable of being maintained under tension at all times when the valve is to be held open. As one example of a modification of this feature I have shown in Fig. 6 a fluid-pressure connection between the stop device and the valve, wherein 51 is a pipe having steam or other fluid pressure supply controlled by a three-way cook 52, actuated through the medium of a rod 56, connected to the drum 26 or to the ratchetwheel directly, the drum in such case being dispensed with, so as to cause the valve to turn in order to exhaust the fluid-pressure in the pipe 58, the said pressure being normally maintained in the pipe. Connected to the stop-valve 32 is a piston 53, operating in a suitable oscillating cylinder 54, into which cylinder the pipe 58 leads, directing the fluid against one side of the piston, and thereby causing the valve to be held open through the medium of the piston-rod 57, connected to the valve. When the cock 52 is turned to exhaust the fluid-pressure from the pipe 58, the tension on'the valve 32 to hold it open is released and the valve closed by the weight, as before.

The casing 1 is closed by a suitable door 55, which can be readily opened when it is desired to gain access to any of the parts in the casing for any purpose.

It is to be understood that while a weight is defined as the means for securing positive action directly upon the valve any equivalent means, such as a spring, may be used for this purpose Within the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a safety stop mechanism for engines, the combination with a safety stop device controlled by variations in the speed of the engine above or below the normal speed of working, of a stop-valve in the steam-pipe near the source of supply, a weight acting directly upon the valve to close it, and connections, under tension, between said valve and the stop device for holding the valve open, and means controlled by the safety stop device for releasing the said tension upon the said connections, substantially as described.

2. In a safety stop mechanism for engines, the combination with a stop device controlled by variations in speed of the engine from the normal speed of working, of a stop-valve in the engine-supply pipe near the boiler or other source of supply, a weight acting directly upon the valve to close it, and connections between the safety stop device and the valve normally holding the valve open against the action of the weight, means controlled by the safety stop device for releasing said connection to permit the weight to close the valve, and means for preventing the opening of the valve until the safety stop device is set in operative position,substantially as described.

3. In a safety stop mechanism for engines, the combination with a governor driven by the engine, of a safety stop device controlled by said governorand operated when the speed Varies from the normal speed of working, a stop-valve in the supply-pipe located near the boiler or other source of supply, a weight acting directly upon the valve to close it, connections between said valve and safety stop device normally opposing the action of the weight, and mechanism acting to release said connections operated by the movement of the governor, when the engine speed varies'from the normal speed of working, whereby the valve may be positively closed by the direct action of the weight thereon when the steampipe bursts or when the speed of the engine varies from the normal working speed, substantially as described.

4. In a safety stop mechanism for engines,

the combination with the supply-pipe, of a stop-valve in said pipe near the source of supply, a weight acting directly upon said valve to close it, connections between the engine and valve normally under tension and holding the valve open, with means for releasing said tension whenever any unusual speed is attained by the engine, whereby the stop valve may be closed when the supply-pipe bursts or when the connections between the boiler and engine break, or when the speed of the engine varies from normal.

5. In asafety stop mechanism for engines, the combination of a governor having a gov- IIO ernor-rod divided into two sections capable of movement with respect to each other, a safety stop device normally holding said sec tions in a fixed position with respect to each other but releasing said sections when the speed of the engine varies from normal, a stop-valve in the supply-pipe adjacent to the boiler or other source of supply, a weight acting directly upon said valve to close it, a rope or cord connection normally under tension between the valve and one of the sections of the governor-rod, and means interposed between said governorrod section and cord adapted to release the tension on the rope when the governor-rod section moves beyond a predetermined point, substantially as described.

(3. In a safety stop mechanism for engines, the combination with the governor having a governor-rod divided into two sections, of a safety stop device normally holding said sections in fixed relation and releasing said sections to permit movement of, one with respect to the other, when the speed varies from normal, a drum mountedupon a shaft adjacent to one of the governor-rod sections, a stopvalve in the supplypipe adjacent to the source of supply, a cord under tension connecting the drum or valve and normally holding said valve open, a weight acting directly on the valve to close the same, and a tripping mechanism interposed between the drum and governor-rod section adapted to be operated by the movement of said section beyond a predetermined point, whereby the tension on the cord is released and the valve is closed by the weight, substantially as described.

7. In a safety stop mechanism for engines, the combination with a governor having a rod divided into two sections normally connected together and capable of movement with respect to each other, a safetystop device adapted to be operated by the movement of the governor-rod when the engine speed varies from the normal speed and operating at such times to release the two sections of the rod, to permit movement of one section with respect to the other,a drum mounted on a shaft, pawland-ratchet mechanism normally holding said drum in a fixed position and adapted to be operated by the movement of one of the governorrod sections, a valve in the supply-pipe near the source of supply, a weight acting directly on the valve to close it, a rope or cord under tension connecting the valve and drum and normally holding the valve open, whereby upon movement of the governor-rod section, by the safety stop device the pawl is moved to release the drum, substantially as described.

8. In a safety stop mechanism for engines, the combination with a governor having a rod in two sections, movable with respect to each other, a safety stop device operating to move one section when the speed varies from normal, a drum mounted upon a shaft near the movable section, a ratchet-wheel fixed to said drum, a pawl fulcrumed to a fixed part having one arm adapted to engage the ratchet and the other arm arranged to be operated by the governor-rod section when the latter is moved by the safety stop device, a valve in the supply-pipe near the source of supply, a weight acting directly on the valve to close it, and connections between the drum and valve for holding the valve open against the action of the weight, whereby the valve is closed by the weight when the drum moves and releases the connections between it and the valve, substantially as described.

9. In a safety stop device for engines, the combination with a governor, a safety stop device operated by the governor when the speed varies from normal, a casing inclosing the operating parts of the safety stop device and adapted to be fixed to the fioor or other support at a suitable distance from the engine, connections between the engine and governor for operating the latter, a shaft mounted in bearings in the casing, a drum fixed to the shaft, and ratchet-teeth fixed to the drum, a pawl fulcrumed upon the casing and havingan arm adapted to normally engage the ratchet-teeth to hold the drum in fixed position, and the other arm adapted to be engaged by a moving part of the safety stop device, a weighted valve positively acting to close the supply-pipe near the source of supply, and connections between the drum and the valve for holding the valve open, substantially as described.

10. The combination of a casing adapted to be secured to the fioor or other support at a suitable distance from the engine, a fly-ball governor mounted thereon and operated by suitable connections with the engine, and having its rod divided into two sections movable with respect to each other and extending within the casing, the said sections being provided with a slotted head, a safety stop device for causing the said lower section to move when the two sections are released from each other, a drum pivoted upon a shaft in the casing, a pawl fulcru med upon the casing having one arm adapted to hold the drum in fixed position, and the other arm extending through the slotted head of the governor-rod section and adapted to be moved by one end of the slot in the said slotted head, when the governor-rod section is caused to move beyond a predetermined point, a valve in the supply pipe near the source of supply, a weight normally tending to close said valve, a rope or cord connecting the drum with the valve, and normally under'tension to hold the valve open, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES K. \VRIGHT.

Witnesses:

CHARLES S. KOHLER, MINNIE MILLER.

IIC 

